Assessing high-school football talent is a subjective science. Players are issued much-coveted star ratings by recruiting services such as Rivals.com, 247sports.com, ESPN.com and Scout.com. In some cases, these assessments are made by so-called experts who have never seen the prospects play. • Even so, this much is evident about the senior crop of central Ohio prospects: The linebackers rule.

The only consensus four-star players are Ohio State commit Nick Conner of Dublin Scioto and Anthony McKee of Marion-Franklin. Conner, 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds, is projected to play inside leveling college. McKee, a 6-2, 190-pound transfer from Walnut Ridge, is expected to play on the outside. Marion-Franklin coach Brian Haffele plans to use McKee as a strong safety who sometimes plays on the line of scrimmage.

“Conner has got a real burst north to south, and he’s got the versatility to either be an inside ’backer or perhaps put his hand down” on the line, said John McCallister, publisher of McCallister Scouting Report and a matchmaker of players and college programs.

A retired coach, McCallister has his own camp and scours the state attending other camps, along with practices, scrimmages and games.

“He’s really athletic and can run, but based on what I’ve seen, I would say he’s a notch below Conner until he shows me otherwise,” McCallister said. “He’s got a lot of room to grow, though, and that’s probably what a lot of the schools see in him.”

Rated just below Conner and McKee is Markus Bailey of Hilliard Davidson (6-2, 220), who has committed to Purdue as an outside linebacker.

“The only question I have about Markus is getting him in the right position in the right scheme,” McCallister said. “He has really good closing speed, athleticism and agility. He might be better suited to be a strong safety at the next level.”

Another linebacker whose stock has soared is Ohio-bound Clayton Glasco of Pickerington Central. Glasco (6-2, 225) was a regional champion shot-putter in track and has excellent athleticism.

“He really shined at my combine, and his best football is ahead of him,” McCallister said.

“I’ve watched Jack Schroer grow up since he was younger,” McCallister said. “He’s tough, he runs well and he’s a heck of a run-stopper. A.J. Tarvin is a really interesting kid. He’s a whale of a football player. He’s not very tall, but he’s got everything else going for him. I’d really like to see somebody give him a chance at fullback.”

There are two consensus four-star prospects in the junior class to watch: 6-3, 220-pound outside linebacker Ethan Tucky of Delaware,